The man behind the original Darth Vader mask has blasted Star Wars director George Lucas and the crew behind the new film, saying he will not be seeing the upcoming movie.

Actor David Prowse, 80, played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. He did not voice the character and his face was never seen, but he was the man in the costume and credited for the role.

He has now said the people involved in the film turned their backs on him and claims not to even own the Darth Vader mask anymore.

“Those behind the film cut me out and have continued to ignore me for years,” he told The Sun.

“Do I have any interest in watching the new movie? No, I don’t.”

The new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, the first in a new trilogy being made by Disney, will feature actors Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, all of whom appeared in the original films alongside Prowse.

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“I have never had a call from anyone to be in the new movie. Nobody even bothered to get in contact to ask,” he said.

Prowse, 80, now makes a living by doing signings at conventions all over the US. (AAP)

Prowse conceded he could not reprise his role of Vader, who died in the original trilogy, but said he would have appreciated being asked to be involved in the film in some way.

“It would have been nice to have been offered a part, irrespective of the role,” he said.

“It would have been really nice to continue with the Star Wars association.

“When the new film was being made they had a big party to launch it and I never got invited.”

The actor fell out with Lucas after he was accused of leaking the fact Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father prior to the release of The Empire Strikes Back.

Prowse said he has no memory of leaking the plot twist.

“I can’t remember leaking anything,” he said.

“I definitely upset George Lucas at one stage or other and I do feel disappointed about that.”

Reports have claimed tensions also built between Prowse and Lucas after the director chose not to use the actors voice in the film. Darth Vader was instead voiced by James Earl Jones, but Prowse said this is just a rumour.

“People thought I was upset that my voice was not used,” he said.

“But I did the voice all the way through the movie (and then) it had to be re-recorded as everything was no good.

“It was too expensive to fly me out there for the half-dozen or so lines I had, so they got James Earl Jones, who did a wonderful job.”

Prowse is now making a living selling autographs for £20 (A$42) at conventions, but said his wife is unhappy he hasn’t let go of the franchise completely.

“My wife won’t have anything to do with Darth Vader and says Star Wars has been an intrusion into our life,” he said.

“I go to a convention every weekend, it dominates my life. But she doesn’t want to know about it.

“Then I get annoyed and say, ‘Have a look around this house. You have a car in the drive and we have a lovely garden. Everything in this house has been paid for by f---ing Star Wars, so be f---ing grateful!’

“When I say that she just goes quiet and doesn’t know what to say.”

The actor said his health is failing him and he now barely remembers his experiences on the set of the Star Wars films.

“Today I am a shadow of my former self. I can barely walk and struggle to even remember what I did yesterday,” he said.

“I filmed Star Wars nearly 40 years ago and I can’t really remember any of it.”